2011-12 Budget Update - April 27
The Board of Education took several steps in its budget process last night, as it voted to request $115.5 million from Forsyth County Commissioners and give employees a one-day furlough by June 30.
The $115.5 million request is about $3.2 million more than commissioners gave the school system last year, and it’s needed to cover several additional costs: opening two new schools; increased rates for retirement, health insurance, dental insurance, utilities, worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance and casualty insurance; and increased payments to charter schools.
This request does not affect the $27 million to $28 million in state cuts that the school system is planning for. That number is based on how much funding we receive from the state. We won't have any new information to share until the N.C. Senate releases its budget. Even then, the Senate and House will have to reconcile their budgets and the governor will have to sign off before we know the extent of state cuts.
The board also voted unanimously to give employees a furlough day this year. The State Board of Education still must approve it, but it would save $1.1 million toward cuts needed for next year. Those making less than $32,000 will not take a furlough day (state law limits furlough days to those making more than $32,000). Employees will take their furlough days according to the following schedule:- 10-month employees will have their furlough day on June 16. That’s the last scheduled professional day for all teachers. (Those who didn’t work or take leave on the optional teacher workdays Jan. 10 and 13 will need to work June 17 and 20. They have their choice of using their last day as their furlough day instead of June 16.)
- 12-month employees’ furlough day will be observed on July 1.
- Those that work between 10 and 12 months will take their furlough day on their last scheduled workday.
The state law that allows furloughs expires on June 30, which explains the urgency in taking the furlough day before then. Those that work 10 months will have the money deducted from their May paychecks; those that work more than 10 months will have the money deducted from their May and June paychecks. Before voting, the board heard the results of the survey that employees took over the weekend. About 3,300 people responded; of those, 81 percent chose the furlough day, 11 percent chose the permanent pay cut, and 8 percent chose neither. The board cautioned that even with the furlough this year, pay reductions may still be necessary next year depending on how much funding the school system receives from the state and county.
